“This is the oral tradition that I have passed down to the Haudenosaunee, the people of Six Nations, from one generation to the next.  I now pass that tradition onto you so you will also know and understand the teachings contained in iotsistohkwaronnion (the stars), and when you see me in the sky you will also remember my words.”

Join us for another fascinating show that blends local culture, history, and modern-day astronomy and shares the Six Nations’ sky lore and language through traditional Indigenous night-sky stories.  With narration and visuals by a live presentation and pre-recorded excerpts (in English and Mohawk), learn about the story of Onekwá:tara – the Seven Dancers of the Pleiades, and how the story is portrayed in the night sky.  See the same stars with a completely different understanding and appreciation!

This show was collaboratively produced by members of the Six Nations, McMaster’s Indigenous Studies Department, and the McCallion Planetarium.

“That is how I heard the story, so I thought that is how you would hear it as well…” Join us for a fascinating show that blends local culture, history, and modern-day astronomy that shares the Six Nation’s sky lore and language through traditional Indigenous night-sky stories. With narration and visuals by a live presentation and pre-recorded excerpts (in English, Mohawk, and Cayuga), learn about the story of the bear and the brothers and how it is retold every year with the rotating patterns in the night sky. See the same stars with a completely different understanding and appreciation! This show was collaboratively produced by members of the Six Nations, McMaster’s Indigenous Studies Department, and the McCallion Planetarium.

Ever wondered if we’re alone in the universe? Are aliens trying to talk to us right now? Join us at the McCallion Planetarium to learn what kinds of aliens might be out there, where they might live, how we might find them, and if we want them to find us…

What exactly are asteroids and comets? Where are they found? What can they tell us about where we come from? What’s the danger of an asteroid hitting Earth and how do we know? If we detected an asteroid on a direct collision course with Earth, how could we stop it?  What’s the difference between a meteor, a meteoroid, and a meteorite? How has Halley’s Comet changed history? Why was Pluto demoted? What are the dwarf planets like? Join us to learn the answers to all these questions and more about the small bodies of the solar system.

Any one of “asteroids”, “comets” and/or “the edge of the solar system” can be emphasized upon group request.

The history of astronomy in the Middle East is one that spans millennia, almost to the very dawn of our historical records. As such, the Middle East is home to many of the advancements and breakthroughs in the field of astronomy. The Babylonians were the first to turn astronomy into scientific practice. The first observatory in the world was built in the city of Baghdad. The most precise star catalogues of their time were made in Ottoman Constantinople. In this show, we will be studying the long history of astronomy in the Middle East, and how that knowledge survives and informs our understanding of astronomy to this day.

Join us at the planetarium for a show geared towards a younger audience (around 8-15 years old) and their family members. Throughout history people on Earth have noticed the importance of the Sun and the Moon in the sky. In this show we will look at the Sun and Moon up close and see how they relate to Earth through space. Where do the northern lights come from? Why do solar and lunar eclipses happen? What does Earth look like from the Moon? We’ll explore these questions and more!

The universe is home to many fascinating phenomena and beautiful objects. But among such splendor, something more sinister lurks… From the numerous astronomical events which could end life as we know it, to the implications for humanity if we truly are alone in the universe, and what it might mean for us if we aren’t alone, join us as we explore some of the most unsettling and terrifying components of astronomy. Don’t forget: in space, no one can hear you scream.

A note that this show is not specifically designed for kids.

From the first close-up images of Mars to the first controlled flight on another planet, more than 60 years of exploration have transformed our understanding of the Red Planet – what it is today and what it may once have been. But how did this all unfold? In this show, we will explore the missions we have sent to Mars, from orbiters and rovers to helicopters, uncovering where they went, what they found, and what challenges they faced, from dust storms to broken wheels. We will also discuss when and how we can send these probes to Mars, and glimpse at what the future of Mars exploration might hold.

Going into space includes an abundance of hurdles. You must deal with weightlessness, a total lack of air, and an environment so vast and empty that Earth’s oceans appear like a drop of water by comparison. But despite this, we still believe humans could colonise the Solar System in the near future. In this show, we will look at the methods that may be used to overcome some of the greatest challenges in space exploration. We will also compare these methods to those seen in pop culture, and determine which ones could be seen in our lifetime.

Five years ago, the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) marked the start of a new era of astrophysics, characterized by unprecedented precision and an abundance of data. In this show, we will take a look at the revolutionary discoveries made possible by JWST. We will begin with the Deep Field images that reveal distant galaxies as they appeared just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. Then, we will explore how atmospheres of exotic planets orbiting stars other than the Sun are detected and characterized, opening new possibilities in the search for life beyond our Solar System. Finally, we will marvel at the beauty of the cosmos with images of stellar nurseries and nebulae, the remnants of ancient exploded stars. Join us for a journey across the Universe as revealed by JWST!

At a quick glance, the Solar System appears pristine, calm, and orderly. The celestial bodies of the Solar System execute their motions with grace and precision, and have done so billions of times for billions of years, and will do so for billions of years to come. However, hidden just below the surface is evidence of the Solar System’s history of tremendous chaos and violence. From (quite literally) Earth-shattering impacts to collisions powerful enough to reverse an entire planet’s rotation, we will peer into the distant past to see the many violent events that led to the Solar System that we know today.

Today, we take for granted that the Moon revolves around Earth, Earth revolves around the Sun, and that the Sun revolves around the centre of our galaxy. But have you ever stopped to wonder how we know this to be true? Why do we say the planets move around the Sun when we see them moving around us and, more importantly, why are they moving in the first place? Join us at the W.J. McCallion Planetarium as we discuss the history of the Solar System, the different models that were proposed and why we know the current one to be correct. We will discuss some great minds that you may have heard of before (and some that you may not have) and look at the sky the way that they would have many years ago.

Join us at the planetarium for a show geared toward younger audiences (8-15 years old) and their family members. We’ll first take you on a tour of the night skies seen from Hamilton, and then focus on the many fascinating bodies within our Solar System. Along the way, we will visit all the planets, some of the most interesting moons, and even more if time permits!

Join us at the planetarium for a show especially geared toward younger audiences (8-15 years old) and their family members. You’ve seen the Sun and the Moon, the planets, and the Hamilton night sky, but what’s beyond the Solar System? In this show, we’ll journey through the Milky Way and discuss our Solar System’s place in the Galaxy and our Galaxy’s place in the Universe. How long will it take to get to the nearest stars and to visit other worlds? What’s in the centre of the Galaxy? How does our Galaxy compare to others? We’ll answer all of these questions and more!

Join us at the planetarium for a show especially geared toward younger audiences (8-15 years old) and their family members. Ever wondered where to find Perseus, the hero who defeated Medusa? Curious about locating your zodiac sign based on your birthday? This show will guide you through the captivating stories behind different constellations visible in the Hamilton night sky. You’ll learn how to recognize them and gain essential star-gazing skills, ensuring you’ll never feel lost when you look up at the night sky again! Additionally, we’ll explore some of the planets and celestial objects visible that night.

We’re lost! Audience members set off on a treacherous ocean voyage and are blown way off course. Their only way home: the stars. In this interactive session, audiences will learn how to navigate with only the night sky. We will start with a brief tour of the night sky and how it works. Once oriented, we will try to determine our location and time, and then hopefully … find our way home.

Why should planets get all the attention? Learn about the massive collision that made our moon, Mars’ tiny moons and their tragic fates, the volcanos of Io, the possible life hidden below the ices of Europa, the massive Ganymede, the completely alien oceans and lakes of Titan, the geysers of Enceladus, the death star lookalike Mimas, the two faces of Iapetus, the backward orbit of Triton, and more. We will also discuss how moons are formed, what they can teach us about the planets they orbit, how we explore them, and any other moon-related questions you may have.

Content generally covers Earth’s Moon, Mars’ moons, Jupiter’s large moons, and Saturn’s large moons. Smaller moons of Jupiter and Saturn as well as the moons of Uranus, Neptune, or any other objects—such as dwarf planets or asteroids—can also be covered upon request.

Many of our favourite stories take place outside of our Solar System or even our Galaxy, the Milky Way. We are always curious to know what it would be like to live on another planet, take off at light-speed, or fall into a black hole. But how much of what we see in movies or TV shows is true? During this planetarium show, we will take a look at some common tropes we see in space media and ask ourselves: is this fact or fiction? We will learn about what shows and movies like Star Trek, Star Wars, The Martian, Interstellar, and Doctor Who get right or wrong, and celebrate them along the way!

The history of astronomy is punctuated by discoveries that have fundamentally changed how we understand the cosmos, broadening our horizons and opening the door to deeper exploration. Join us on a journey through time, from Ancient Greece to the modern era, and learn about some of the most influential astronomers of the Western world, including Ptolemy, Copernicus, Newton and more, and discover their revolutionary contributions to astronomy.

System set to the music of ‘The Planets’ by Gustav Holst. Each of the seven movements in Holst’s orchestral suite represents the attributes of the Roman god or goddess the planet is named after. In listening order are Mars, the Bringer of War; Venus, the Bringer of Peace; Mercury, the Winged Messenger; Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity; Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age; Uranus, the Magician; and Neptune, the Mystic.

Science fiction is an important part of pop culture, taking us to many different planets, stars, and galaxies. But did you know that many sci-fi stories are set around stars that you can actually see when you go outside? In this show, we will talk about the stars that inspired some of the stories you know best and how to find the places that you have seen and read about many times, but have never known.

Humans have always looked up and wondered what lies beyond our world, but we don’t explore alone. Across the solar system, robotic explorers and telescopes travel on our behalf, sending back images and discoveries from places too distant and too dangerous for humans to reach.  In this immersive planetarium experience, we’ll journey to meet these remarkable machines as they carry out their lonely and extraordinary missions.  Through their eyes, we’ll see the swirling storms of distant planets, the ancient light of newborn stars, and the vast, uncharted reaches of space, and with their help, we’ll uncover the secrets of worlds beyond our own.

Every age of astronomy has expanded our horizons, and modern astronomy surveys 14 billion years of history and 90 billion light years of observable universe. By pushing our understanding past our Solar System and beyond our Galaxy, we have learned that the largest scales that the universe are dominated by dark matter, which holds galaxies together, and dark energy, which is pushing our universe apart. Join us in the planetarium for a trip from Earth to the farthest, and oldest reaches of the universe. We’ll highlight the discovery of dark matter, and dark energy and the search to unravel these biggest mysteries of the universe.

Join us for this immersive adventure through the Solar System and beyond! What would it feel like to walk on the Moon or see a Martian sunset? What would you see when up close and personal with the stunning rings of Saturn? Envision yourself arriving at frigid Pluto and looking back, trying to catch sight of Earth, a blue jewel shining faintly in the vast black of space. Get ready to fly through a nebula and fall into a black hole! Using modern scientific discoveries in astronomy and a little imagination we’ll tour the stars and go where no human has ever gone before!

For thousands of years, the Sun has shaped human destiny. Its steady rhythm of seasons sustained civilizations, while sudden eclipses inspired awe, fear, and myth. Ancient cultures worshipped it as a god, knowing their survival depended on its light and warmth. Today, we understand the Sun as a powerful, dynamic star – one capable of unleashing immense bursts of energy in the form of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These storms can ripple across space, disrupting satellites, communications, and power grids here on Earth. Yet despite centuries of scientific progress, the Sun still holds mysteries that challenge our understanding. In this show, we journey from ancient skies to modern space missions, exploring how the Sun’s ever-changing “mood” has influenced humanity – and how close we truly are to predicting its next great outburst.

Join us for a celestial celebration of love under the stars! Discover ancient myths of star-crossed lovers woven into the constellations, and travel to some of the most scenic locations in the universe in this special Valentine’s themed show. Whether you’re with a special someone or simply a starry-eyed dreamer, this show promises to sweep you off your feet and leave you starstruck.